• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• 제23권5호
• /
• pp.219-228
• /
• 2006

Objectives : To observe the effect of acupuncture treatment on Digital Infrared Thermographic Imaging(DITI) in frozen shoulder patients. Methods : 17 voluntary patients received acupuncture treatment on LI15, TE14, GB21 and Master Dong's acupuncture points, Shin-gwan and Gyun-joong, twice a week for 4 weeks. The patients were instructed to practice self exercise during their daily lives. Evaluations were made before treatment, after 1 week of treatment, after 2 weeks, 3 weeks and after 4 weeks of treatment. Constant Shoulder Assessment(CSA), Shoulder Pain and Disability Index(SPADI), Range of Motion(ROM) and the patient's satisfaction concerning the treatment was measured by Visual Analogue Scale(VAS). DITI was measured before treatment and after 4weeks of treatment. The obtained data was analyzed. Results : CSA, SPADI, VAS, adduction and extension showed significant(p<0.05) improvement. Abduction and flexion both improved after 4 weeks of treatment, but the improvement was statistically insignificant(p>0.05). DITI showed improvement but the improvement was insignificant(p>0.05). Conclusion : 4 weeks of acupuncture treatment significantly improved CSA, SPADI, VAS, adduction and extension in frozen shoulder patients(p<0.05). The improvement of abduction and flexion after 4 weeks of acupuncture treatment was insignificant(p>0.05). DITI results improved after 4 weeks of acupuncture treatment. But the change of thermal difference was insignificant(p>0.05).

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• 제30권5호
• /
• pp.1-9
• /
• 2013

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to present clinical utility of therapeutic exercise on the neck and shoulder parts based on the movement system impairment syndrome(MSIS) as Dong-Qi therapy of the Dong-Si Acupuncture and was to examine which Dong-Si acupoints were most effective and non-invasive when performing therapeutic exercise of the MSIS. Methods : Totally eight therapeutic exercises correspondent to eight neck and shoulder MSIS were summarized and tabulated from the Diagnosis and Treatment of Movement Impairment Syndrome and Movement System Impairment Syndromes Of The Extremities, Cervical and Thoracic Spines by Sahrmann SA. Together with the MSIS summaries, acupuncture points and Dong-Qi therapy were summarized and tabulated from Yangweijiequanji 1 and Yangweijiequanji 2 by Yangweijie. According to the posture and movement of the MSIS exercise, effective and non-invasive acupoints were selected. Thereafter, clinical pilot study which five normal volunteers participated in were performed to examine whether these acupoints resulted in any side effects of acupuncture therapy such as pain and distortion of the needle during the MSIS exercises. Results : Through clinical pilot study, ZhongZi, ZhongXian, ZhengJin, ZhengZong and MuLiu in a sitting position, and HuaGuYi, ZhongZi and ZhongXian in a supine position were finally determined as safe and non-invasive Dong-Si acupoints to treat cervical pain. In terms of shoulder pain, ZuQianJin, ZuWuJin, HuaGuEr and JianZhong in a supine position, SiHuaZhong, ZuQianJin, ZuWuJin, QuLing, JianZhong, ShenGuan and JiuLi in a standing position, and ZuQianJin, ZuWuJin, HuaGuEr, QuLing and JianZhong in a prone position were finally accepted as safe and non-invasive Dong-Si acupoints. Conclusion : It is concluded that Dong-Si acupoints can be safely and non-invasively used together with therapeutic exercises of the MSIS to treat cervical and shoulder pains.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• 제26권2호
• /
• pp.49-58
• /
• 2009

Objectives : The aim of this study was to investigate whether Doppler ultrasound device is applicable for the evaluation of facial palsy patients. Methods : A total of 25 patients participated in the first assessment and 22 of them finished a follow-up assessment one week later. An assessment comprised of a Minimax-Doppler-K device examination on bilateral acupoints $ST_5$, $SI_{19}$, $ST_2$, and $BL_1$, House-Brackmann grading, and subjective symptom questionnaire. Measurement reliability was assessed and clinically meaningful variations of Doppler measurement values were explored. Results : Doppler ultrasound examination revealed a significant difference of some measurement values between values of the symptom side and the contralateral side, between groups of severe paralysis and moderate paralysis, and between groups of short duration(0-3 weeks) and long duration (3 weeks-5 months) by non-parametric analyses (p<0.05). Several re-examination values showed a significant correlation with the first examination values by Spearman's correlation tests (p<0.05). Conclusions : This study revealed several possibilities for the clinical application of this device. Further validity tests and device improvements for a user's convenience would be helpful for its practical application.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• 제24권3호
• /
• pp.187-196
• /
• 2007

Objectives : This study was designed to evaluate the effect of Moxa Pellet therapy on chronic low back pain. Methods: Subjects were voluntarily recruited by newspapers and internet. The Moxa Pellet therapy was performed for 4 weeks. Patients were randomized to three groups: Moxa Pellets, Control-l and Control-2 group. Moxa Pellets group administered with Moxa Pellets, Control-l group administered with moxa pellet-shaped moxa pellet without available components and Control-2 group administered with round bonded fabric that could not give pressing stimulation. Acupuncture points used in this study were $GV_3$, $BL_{23}$, $BL_{24}$, $BL_{25}$ and $BL_{22}$. The patient's symptoms were assessed before and after 4 weeks treatments by VAS, SF-MPQ and SF- 36. Results : The results are follows; 1. VAS score showed significant difference in Moxa Pellet group and Control-l group after treatment. 2. SF-MPQ score showed significant difference only in Moxa Pellet group. 3. Moxa Pellet group showed significant difference in PF, RE, MR, and BP of SF- 36 score after treatment; Control-l group showed no significant difference; Control-2 group showed significant difference in BP. There were no significant difference among the groups. Conclusions : This study suggests that Moxa Pellet therapy can be applicable to improve symptoms in the patients with chronic low back pain. Further studies on the Moxa Pellet therapy and other treatment in the patients with chronic low back pain is recommended.

• 한국한의학연구원논문집
• /
• 제16권2호
• /
• pp.125-130
• /
• 2010

Objectives : The bone proportional cun and body cun have been used widely for the location of acupoints in oriental medical clinic. The aim of this study is to compare the two location methods. Methods : 21 students were examined for the location of 6 acupoints (each 2 points in the 3 parts of upper limb, abdomen, and lower limb) using the twe methods. The data of location were analyzed with t-test. Results : In the upper limb, the data from bone proportional cun and body cun were proved to be different significantly. However, there was no significant difference between the data from the two methods in the abdomen and lower limb. Conclusion : The results of this study demonstrate that the oriental medical doctors should be more careful in the choice of appropriate method for the location of acupoints in the upper limb, while it is not important whether they use bone proportional cun and body cun in the abdomen and lower limb.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• 제22권6호
• /
• pp.93-100
• /
• 2005

Objectives : The purpose of this report is to examine the effect of Jiejing-Quxue in the Shoulder pain patient. Methods : Clinical studies were done 40 patients who were treated with shoulder pain to Dept. of Acupuncture & Moxibusition, of Oriental Medicine Se-Myung University from August 1, 2005 to October 28, 2005. Subjects were divided into two groups Shunjing-Quxue needling group(Group A) and Jiejing-Quxue needling group(Group B). In Shunjing-Quxue needling group, we treated patients with one acupunture point on one meridian pathway. In Jiejing-Quxue needling group, we treated patients with two each acupunture points on two each meridian pathways. For evaluating satisfaction of patients, we use the method for Martin. A.N. to present. For evaluating change of pain, Visual Analog Scale(VAS) was examined after each treatment. Results : In satisfaction of patients, the patients of Group B were more satisfied than them of Group A. The VAS score of Group B were decreased significantly compared to that of Group A(p<0.05) Conclusion : The Jiejing-Quxue acupunture treatment may be good effects on the Soulder pain. So we suggest the possibility to use this treatment for Shoulder pain.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• 제18권1호
• /
• pp.21-28
• /
• 2001

Objective : The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of stimulation of specific auricular acupuncture points on appetite suppression. Methods : The fasted rats were deprived of food and water for 48 hours. Stimulation of tho inner auricular region of the rat correspond to the human stomach acupuncture point was made for leptin, tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) and c-fos expression in the brain of the fasted rats by immunohistochemistry. Results : The immunoteactivities of leptin in the periventricular nucleus of the auricular acupunctured group with fasted were significantly higher compared to those of the fasted group. The immunoreactivities of TPH in the median raphe neucleus and reticulotegmental neucleus pons of the auricular acupunctured group with fasted were significantty higher compared to those of the fasted group. And the immunoreactivities of c-fos in the dentate gyrus of the auricular acupunctured group with fasted were significantly lower compared to those from the fasted group. Conclusions : We conclude that the auricular acupuncture altered leptin and TPH-expression in the brain of the fasted rats. The results suggest that auricular acupuncture may inhibit food intake.

• 한국의학물리학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 한국의학물리학회 2002년도 Proceedings
• /
• pp.352-355
• /
• 2002

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether or not acupuncture of GB34 produces a significant response of the modulation of somatomotor areas by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study. The acupoint, GB34, located in the back of the knee, is known to be effective in recovering motor function after stroke. Using 3T MRI scanner, functional MR imaging of the whole brain was performed in 12 normal healthy subjects during two stimulation paradigms; acupuncture manipulation on GB 34 and sham points. This study investigates the activation of the mortor cortex elicited by a soft and an intensified stimulation of GB 34. Three different paradigms were carried out to detect any possible modulation of the Blood Oxygenation Level Dependent (BOLD) response in the somatomortor area to motor stimulation through acupuncture. Group analysis from seven individuals showed that bilateral sensorimotor areas (BA 3,4,6 and 7) showed stimulation related BOLD signal contrast of approximately 6% whereas very few areas were activated when sham stimulation is given. The present study shows that acupuncture fMRI study can be safely conducted in 3T MRI environment, and acupuncture stimulation in GB34 modulates the cortical activities of the somatomotor area in human. The present findings may shed light on the CNS mechanism of motor function by acupuncture and form a basis for future investigations of motor modulation circuits in the stroke patients.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
• /
• 제30권4호
• /
• pp.289-297
• /
• 2013

Objectives : Diabetic peripheral neuropathy(DPN), generally considered to be the most symptomatically distressing complication of diabetes, affects more than 50% of people with diabetes. However, no consistently effective treatment for DPN is available and patients are forced to struggle with medications that provide only partial relief. In this pilot study, we evaluated the clinical effects of Saam acupuncture for the treatment of painful DPN. Methods : A total of 10 patients with painful DPN were included in the study; 6 subjects with Saam acupuncture treatment and 4 subjects without it. Subjects were defined as having painful DPN if they had at least 2 points using total symptom score(TSS). Treatments were delivered three times a week for 4 weeks. Vitamin $B_{12}$ was orally administrated in the all subjects. At initial(0 week) and follow-up after 4 weeks and 8 weeks, all subjects underwent TSS, Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument(MNSI), and nerve conduction test. Results : After initial(0 week) and follow-up(8 weeks), TSS and MNSI were not significantly different between the two groups(p=0.400 and p=0.830, respectively). However, in both two groups, according to time, there was a significant difference in TSS as well as MNSI(p=0.001 and p=0.004, respectively). Conclusions : Saam acupuncture may be considered as the effective treatment for the patients of DPN although the changes of the symptoms were of limited significance in this study. Further investigations are required to elucidate the role of Saam acupuncture for the pain control of DPN.

• 대한한방내과학회지
• /
• 제29권3호
• /
• pp.778-786
• /
• 2008

Objectives : This study was to investigate the short time effect of caffeine on heart rate variability(HRV) and the effect of Neiguan(PC6) acupuncture stimulation on HRV. Methods : 27 healthy adult volunteers were randomly allocated to two groups: Neiguan group (N=13) or placebo group (N=14). The study was carried out under a randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled trial method. Each group orally received the same tablets with 200 mg caffeine. After 1 hour, acupuncture was applied to the Neiguan(PC6) points for the Neiguan group, and for the placebo group was applied to a non-acupuncture point. Both groups were estimated with HRV 3 times, before and after caffeine ingestion, 20 minutes after acupuncture stimulation. Results : After taking caffeine, pulse rate, mean-HRV, and pNN50(the proportion derived by dividing NN50 by the total number of NN intervals) decreased, SDNN(standard deviation of all normal-to-normal (NN) intervals), RMSSD (the root square of successive differences), TP log, HF(high frequency), and HRV index was increased. There were significant changes to the autonomic nervous system after taking caffeine. There were no significant differences between the two groups after acupuncture at Neiguan. Conclusion : Caffeine could induce general activation of the autonomic nervous system. Neiguan acupuncture stimulation may not have significant influence on the autonomic nervous system.